Madam,

Whilst we are not against the principle of reopening stations on the Cambrian main line our members do have some concerns regarding Ceredigion County Council’s proposal to reopen Bow Street station.

Firstly it appears as a standalone project and does not form part of any wider strategy for the Cambrian lines as a whole. It is unclear how it impacts on other proposed projects or operational matters that affect other users.

Is it even the right scheme to be prioritised for the line as a whole?

The notion that commuters will travel in plenty of time to park up at Bow Street to take the train into Aberystwyth and then double back on themselves by foot to destinations such as the university or the Welsh Government/council offices is perhaps slightly naive given the short distance involved.

If the station is to act as park and ride facility for the area for journeys eastward, what ticket-buying facilities will be available?

There is also the question of revenue collection. The conductors already only just cope with the short distance between Borth and Aberystwyth in getting round passengers, having to attend to doors.

So more customers at Bow Street would make it all but impossible given the short journey time.

Would this mean that Aberystwyth would have to become a station with ticket barriers? Ticket barriers would have to be installed beyond the entrance to the booking office meaning trains would have to stop even further away from the buffers.

Aberystwyth Town Council has already been very vocal about trains not being stopped adjacent to the canopies and passengers getting wet. A station at Bow Street would exacerbate this.

Ceredigion County Council needs to answer these concerns.

Yours etc,

Albert Hall,

Secretary SARPA - Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Passenger Association.

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